Brewers should be releasing their TV schedule any day now, in fact, Monday would be a good guess.

In previous years, they have carried 150 games, and I would expect about the same in 2014, pretty much all of them except the Saturday blackout dates, and depending on how many of them there are, a few weekday matinees.

In the Twin Cities, we lived in a townhouse, and with the townhouse, came a membership in the townhome association. It was just a bunch of folks who looked for stuff to complain about, minute rules that were unknown, so they could send out a letter saying "you broke the rule, and if you do not fix it...we're not going to do anything about it."

We got one on two occasions, one when we had Direct installed on the roof (can't be on the roof, has to be attached to something on the roof), and again when we had to have our sliding door replaced because the water did not drain, and the wood rotted away (we had the nerve to have a door/window installed with a door that did not slide, but opened in and out).

Don't know if Romney would have been a good president, but it's obvious to anyone with any sense he'd be a way better one.--Frank J. Fleming
Remember how everyone made fun of Romney for telling the truth about Putin and Russia. Obama, as he does whenever a real problem comes up, casually dismissed it and went back to his life of golf, cigars, and scotch.

No appointments this afternoon, so I stopped at the evil empire and filled our shopping list we made for the weekend and next week last night. Using their customer friendly price match policy, I saved $89.

I know some of you do not like the fact Wal Mart is so darn efficient at what they do. I know some of you like shopping the little corner grocery. We go there when we just need a couple things too.

But the vast majority of the time, we shop where stuff is cheapest, and there's no doubt where that is.

College will be very different in about 7-10 years, as the gravy train of taxpayers paying for grants and loans that pay for a kid to take classes in Belgian Lesbian Literature will end the second some common sense gets elected to DC...and people that understand math start voting.

Evan Anderson will graduate in May and not use his last season of eligibility for the Badgers in '14-'15.

With George Marshall's transfer, that leaves two schollies open for the Badegrs next season. Since only Brust was a senior, they filled his spot with Ethan Happ and do not have any other offers out as of now. That may change, as while Anderson was strictly a role player and a big body, you could imagine him getting 15-20 minutes a game if Kaminsky or Hayes was injured.

If you're not using tea tree oil, you must like to suffer. It is a natural cure all, it soothes and makes you feel better. It's very expensive if you buy it at GNC or the like, but I got some through the mail for $3-4 because I bought three. On my last bottle.

If you wish to line up outside the ballpark for tickets, get a life don't start until Friday at noon.

Of course, the Brewers, in trying to "create demand" and free marketing by the old media lining up to beam pictures of cold fans up to satellites, is putting a few Opening Day tickets on sale only at the MP box office.

A poster on a message board just argued Robin Yount is an all time great because he's the only player to ever have two four hit World Series games.

This is why I don't bother. Yount was a very consistent good player for two decades. Any pretense this is at all related to what he did in a pair of games is ludicrous, and, to be blunt, embarrassingly bad research.

Many players as good as, or better than Yount, have never played in two WS games. That does not make them less talented in any way.

Ramblings neighbor has been out by our mailboxes for the last fifteen minutes with a pick and shovel. Not sure if we got a "fix this or we're not delivering mail" notice or what, but I wouldn't work that hard even if we belonged to the Pie of the Month club.

It'd be far easier just stopping and picking up the mail at the post office every week or two.

For the 14th straight season, the Badgers will have a winning record in
Big Ten play -- the second-longest streak in league history.

I say the same thing about the Brewers last eight years, or however many it has been, but it is remarkable the consistent run Bo has put together. For the most part, he's had pretty good health, but still, a decade and a half is a long time to string anything along.

At this point, it has become reminiscent of a witch hunt. Look, we all know Obama is the reason for the IRS scandal, the NSA scandal, the Benghazi scandal...and they keep digging through emails looking for...what?

If they'd only spend a fraction as much time studying economic theory.

Of course, when the opponent is playing a 2-3 zone packed in the lane, you really don't have much choice, you pretty much live and die with your outside shooting. Every zone has a weakness, that's why many coaches never/rarely play a zone...you're pretty much just hoping the other team fails to execute.

Why hasn't it worked? Because the economy sucks. Only people like me do stuff for free when their wallet ain't full.

{Not to toot my own horn, but I'm a business partner with my charities in good times and bad. Most Obama supporters receive help, and their giving is minimal. As with most everything Obama, it was all just empty, dishonest words.}

And with a spread the wealth, punish the successful economic plan, any boom is going to be short lived. The result? Giving is down.

College and pro football has been hesitant to play on Friday nights because of high schools, but realistically, a very small percentage of the public has been to a HS game in a decade. Most of the nation ain't Texas either, to say the least.

The states with the greatest burden of taxes, regulations & restriction on businesses are the 10 slowest-growing states. Ten US states noted for the most freedom, opportunity, and encouragement of business activity are also the fastest-growing & most prosperous.--Anna Rand

Just coincidence, I'm sure.

The irony here...liberals know exactly what they're doing, as they want to "punish" businesses for, wait for it, being successful and employing people. They do not believe in the free market, or the private sector.

This is why they insist on rewriting history every chance they get. When you're that ignorant on economics, you'd want it changed too.

Hardee's (by us) used to do both lunch and breakfast from 10-11:30 or so, or until they ran out of biscuits and the like. I understand it's a bit tricky...from what I understand the oil is a different temp for breakfast and lunch items, as well as the difficulty of having burgers, ham, sausage, and so on all going at once.

It's amazing that in a world in which many
(young adult women especially) are famous for reasons no one can really
comprehend, lots of people are drawing a blank on Harold Ramis today. There
literally was barely a comedy movie made in the 1980's that he did not help write, direct, or take part in.

Bucks TV guys talking about talk recently of a four point line, to "open things up" inside. Jim said he heard about 30 feet out. Years ago, I recall brief talk of making halfcourt shots worth 4. I love the idea myself, as it gives slow guys that can shoot more of a chance.

They "spread the wealth" by making everyone a have not. They don't understand economics, supply and demand, and the like; but by gosh, they sure know how to make citizens pay more for the luxuries...like heat, and lights.

Funny looking at the clock and seeing it's 1PM, and the Badgers are done.

Whenever they lose, invariably, the talk goes to failing to rebound or defend well, or turnovers, fouls, or such aspects of the game. Today, they simply shot good enough to make up for other imperfections. Despite Brust and Hayes having off nights, Iowa had no answer for shutting them down.

I'm surprised Netflix hasn't already announced this, to be honest. ST has millions of fans, many extremely dedicated, and the old media would wet themselves promoting it for free. I like the idea about focusing on Earth, or a Worf captained ship would interest me as well.

Very few Brewers on the fringe are out of options, which is often how the last couple roster spots are decided by intelligent organizations. I am far from positive, but I think the only fellas on the 40 man that have none remaining are Bianchi and Kintzler. I would assume Francisco as well, as otherwise, he would not have been on waivers.

The Crew has gone out of their way to sign utility players who can play SS and are versatile; so I would guess Bianchi is on a short leash...especially since he has never hit LHP, and platooning with Gennett may well end up as part of the job description.

With Weeks and the 1B situation, they may end up only carrying four OF's (Schafer being the obvious choice, but Gindl has played CF in the minors as well), and while Bianchi has seen time out there, there are many other options with extensive experience, some at all three spot. One, Elian Herrera, was even placed on the 40 man, a tribute to his readiness and the fact the Brewers like him. He's played far more 2B and OF than SS, but his ability to switch hit, hit better from the right side, and steal a base (about 20 a season in the minors, 76% success rate) might be enough to make them overlook that.

Irving Falu is another name to remember, he has 536 games at SS in the minors, and while he has far less OF experience than Herrera, he still has far more than Bianchi, in addition to possessing many of Elian's skills (switch hitter, great speed, hits better RH). He is in camp as a non roster invite, and could be looked at as a utility guy or as a 2B platoon option as well. On a minor league deal, options do not matter...however, he may well have a opt out clause, which works just like an option, as it would keep the Crew from stashing him at AAA.

Several months ago, I told everyone we had a chipmunk eating all of our sunflower seeds, and I had "fixed" the problem short term by putting old cereal in our bird feeder, which led the chipmunk to go elsewhere.

After a couple weeks, I dumped the cereal out, and put in a combo of about 75% sunflower seeds and 25% cereal. And, there it sat...all winter. The birds even stopped visiting the suet feeder the Rambling son had built which the birds had visited since a couple weeks after we had put it up. Finally, a couple days ago, I noticed the bird feeder was only 75% full. Today, 50%. I guess the birds finally decided it was worth tolerating some old cereal to get to the seeds.

No chipmunk though. I may have discovered a perfect way to painlessly remove them from bird feeders.

Last night, we were told to expect anywhere from 8-12 inches of snow, starting early this morning...might get some rain just before the snow begins.

Now, almost 4PM...not a flake of snow or drop of rain yet. Forecast calls for "mixed sleet, snow, and rain developing by 5PM. Will change to all freezing rain by early evening, then becoming all snow overnight, 1-3 inches expected."

But you know what? They can, without a shadow of doubt, tell you it was a third of a degree warmer/cooler a century plus ago, and it's all the fault of the industrial revolution.

Bucks trade Ridnour (and his expiring contract) and Gary Neal to the Bobcats for Ramon Sessions (and his expiring contract).

Bobcats must have had room under the cap or a trade exemption to make those guys fit.

Also, reports of several playoff teams wanting backup C Raduljica, Bucks not dealing him. That Jennings trade was about as good as it gets, as both throw ins for salary cap purposes, Miroslav and Middleton, have proven to be far more than roster filler.

EDIT: Bucks also receive Jeff Adrien, a power forward who pretty much defines the term "journeyman." I assume he was included to make the money work. Adrien makes the veteran's minimum, and (wait for it), has an expiring contract.

What are they worried about, it's impossible to fire any of them...because they pay the worst one the same amount as the best, because the free market fails to exist in education!

And you know what? They'll insist it's the only way, and call you Hitler when you point out how ignorant that is.

Of course, I have yet to find a private sector job that needs a band or choir director. They'll tell you they could make twice as much though...as they hang onto the job they have like a 88 year old woman grips the steering wheel during a snowstorm.

Austin Rivers, son of Doc and #10 overall pick in 2012 is supposedly available from NO. The nice thing is, he's 6-5 and been playing mostly PG this season...that's nice length to have at that spot, and, he can obviously defend 2's and 3's as well.

If Neal and/or Ridnour are dealt with no player returning, that might be a nice fit.

Ellenson is one of three 6-9 or taller junior big men Bo is recruiting, including Diamond Stone, a top ten prospect in all of the USA, who is from Milwaukee. Stone will almost certainly be a two year max guy in college, but I assume Henry will look to go somewhere to be "the man."

Bucks veteran shooting guard Gary Neal has drawn interest from several teams
and seems certain to be dealt. The Bucks are also dangling young power
forward John Henson and could package him with a veteran player with a
high salary like shooting guard O.J Mayo, who is in the first season of a
fully-guaranteed three-year, $24 million deal.--Racine Journal-Times

That's new. I am not a big fan of Henson, as he reminds me a lot of Jon Leuer...nice offensive player, but weak on defense and on the boards due to his lack of muscle and toughness. Leuer has settled in as a nice 10 minute a game guy in Memphis, and while Henson has a higher ceiling, he is still limited.
Neal and Ridnour are both attracting enough attention so hopefully a mini bidding war will break out. Luc is an expiring contract, so he has tons of value to the Bucks.

In September of 2005, on the first day of
school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in
Little Rock did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of
school, with the permission of the
school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she
removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids
entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third
period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to
tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news
crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy
teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final
period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the
floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the
day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to
earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this
classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point,
Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.
Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that
classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the
school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside
the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place
those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their
lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks.
These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They
went halfway around the world, giving up their education and
interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom
you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility
to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the
price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't
ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story. And
this teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year
for the State of Arkansas.

I'd love it if they would find the time to teach about WW2. We never once made it to the 1940's...ran out of school year about the turn of the century, Teddy Roosevelt time, or thereabouts.

Of course, our boys in DC say there would not be that many...if only business owners would "accept" lower profits. The government controlling...or suggesting...that lower profits would be better for all is pretty much the end of the free market as we know it.

They have to run on Obamacare, runaway debt, and a terrible economy. I can't wait to see them spin it, but while they have proven they will lie nonstop, their base is not blithering idiots. And, thankfully, most of the 50% that receive benefits don't vote.

Melvin noted a magazine story in which the Brewers were listed with
three starting pitchers 25 and under who averaged at least 93 mph with
their fastball in 2013 -- Wily Peralta, Johnny Hellweg and Jimmy Nelson
(who made only one start). Tyler Thornburg just missed at 92 mph.
Fourteen teams didn't have anyone in that category and no team had more
than the Brewers,

Melvin said the Brewers also ranked fourth in the majors in fastballs
ast 95 mph or above. In other words, there are some hard throwers to
watch.--JS

Don't even get me started...the Crew ranked in the bottom five last spring in the prospect rankings, and graduated Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett, who both performed above average at their positions in the majors last year, Tyler Thornburg, who was phenomenal last season in the majors. Jimmy Hellweg was the PCL pitcher of the year, Jimmy Nelson was solid, and many bullpen guys (Hans, Wootern, Kintzler) contributed...and they are ranked in the bottom five again this season.

I just get tired of the blatant inconsistency and lack of effort most of these rankings put into the process.

God does protect us from snake venom...it's called antivenom, and it's available at hospitals.

It's just like the Wausau couple that let their child die a few years ago as they prayed for her. You can't fix stupid, and you can't ignore the medical advances we've made in the past century (I know, the anti vaccine crowd is headshakingly ignorant as well) just because you have religious beliefs.

The 124 golf courses in the Coachella Valley consume roughly 17 percent of all water there.

Pardon me if I don't think a penny of federal tax dollarsshould be used to save a state this stupid from themselves. This ain't climate change, this is incredibly selfish clowns looking for a taxpayer subsidized handout.

Don't forget, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Wehn the next GOP president simply "orders" a tax cut, and the left is up in arms at not taking cash from the successful, they will just point to 2009-17, and laugh and laugh...

Remember, he will make us all equal by making us all have nots. Don't say I didn't warn you. When your entire economic "plan" is to drag down the successful, don't be surprised to see the successful struggling.

Badgers now off until next weekend. Probably take a day or two off, and those who are banged will likely take several to heal up. No doubt they can play with anyone on a good day and be very mediocre on a bad one.

Let's hope they rest up, get healthy, and go on a nice run this last six weeks.

Every year, at some point, the Badgers lose a couple games, and the word is, Bo has lost his touch and will never win another contest.

Today, it seemed the only chance they had was if the clock ran out before the inevitable Wolverine spurt that would put them ahead to stay. Suddenly, MICH missed a couple shots, and the lead was back up to 8.

The workers are correct, unions have become nothing but a money laundering arm of the Democrat Party. Why pay part of your paycheck into that?

No reason.

UPDATE: Glenn points out the union ran unopposed...and still lost. You know, it's almost like all that bad behavior we saw at the capitol has consequences. Vandalism, calling in sick, and and comparing your governor to Hitler doesn't play well in Peoria. Most folks just don't want to be a part of that.

It pains me that when the left can't find the hate and discrimination they want, they just make it up.

There is an extreme minority that is racist. There is an extreme minority that does not like gay people. Many of us are completely oblivious to it, and wants some sort of sensible leadership to emerge that does not keep spending foolishly and adding debt for the kids that are black, purple, white, and of every sexual orientation in the future.

And most of all, we wish the left would join us in the way we do not label, and do not bring it up. We're not far at all from a color blind society, and one that shrugs its shoulders at what gender someone is attracted to. However, we're never going to get to that point in history if the liberals don't stop spreading fiction as truth. Much like the embarrassing behavior the union displayed at the capitol, I'm better than that, and so are the people on my side.

Grow the hell up and stop trying to punish those who work far harder and smarter than you do.

A pencil stream of water takes 17 seconds to fill a cup (8 ounces). That's 13 gallons an hour we'll supposedly be running for the next couple months, and every other home in our village is supposed to do the same thing.

Somewhere, the environmental wacko brigade is tearing its hair out. Luckily, I understand evaporation and rainfall. However, I do have to wonder if anyone has thought about the effects of thousands of homes dumping 13 gallons of water into the river per hour for the next sixty days. I suppose the problems downstream seem pretty minor compared to replacing miles of blown water pipes.

Also, have you been to the
USPS stores lately? Wow.... talk about customer service down the
tubes. Cannot wait until our healthcare is handled completely by the US
Government.

Walk in, no one signals
for me to come to a station, gentlemen in front of me looks frustrated
(never figured out why) asks me where the nearest Fed Ex is and I gave
him directions.

After,
I find myself standing in front of an open spot in the queue and turn
to find an associate waiting for me. I place my box on the table and
tell her I need to send this package. She quickly mumbles something
about no explosives, aerosols perfumes and something else I didn't
understand and I confirmed none of them were in the package.

Next
she asks how I would like to send it and I stated "Standard?" and she
says "ok". I look at the little monitor that shows what you owe flash
across multiple screens as she is tapping feverishly on hers, I see $
amounts, agreement language and other various things flash across the
screen, she looks up and tells me "standard delivery is no longer
allowed Zones 1-4" we have to send it priority" to which I say "what?"
in an obvious confused notion, she repeats herself and I then again
respond with a confused "what does that mean?" again she repeats no
longer allowed in Zones 1-4 and that's "zone 3". I have no clue what
zone's are and what she is talking about, she is tapping not waiting or
caring about me confirming to accept priority mailing, I see another
dollar amount, this tim to the sum of $45 flash across the keypad. I'm
confused as all hell when I ask "does that signify locations?" to which
she states yes, again not looking up at me, that "that" is in zone 3.

Now
I'm frustrated and scared I've just agreed to my first born being sent
to Zone 4... but it will only cost me $45 to send her there. Now she
asks me to pay for it and states its $12, which I don't know how or why
it got to be that amount. I'm relieved and I swipe my credit card. She
asks if I'm paying with CC and asks to see the back of my card, which I
don't sign just in case I ever lose it and a thief accidentally doesn't
sign it and a clerk asks to see it... I have my ID ready to show her
and prove it's me to which she points to the table in front of me where a
sign has been taped stating that the USPS no longer accepts unsigned
Credit Cards. She says quickly while measuring the package "we no
longer can accept unsigned Credit Cards, it says so right in front of
you". I take the card back from her after she finishes double checking
her measurements and hand her a 20. I get my change and she hands it
off to me states "thank you" and yells "next!!!!"

Clearly her intent was to
make sure I enjoyed my visit to the USPS and that I fully understood
what was going on and was hoping to gain a loyal customer for the
future. Nope, I was a number, just one of 100s more she would see until could enjoy the federal
benefits in which she was entitled to. The whole process took about 3
minutes tops, which was nice, but I don't know for sure that the package
will make it, as I never wrote anything as to where it was going....
Likely that she read the card my wife taped to the top of the box, but
who knows!?!?

"We are in the best of hands"....

I always enjoy Scott's recaps of his post office visits, because he keeps expecting them to improve.

I don't think being taller or shorter matters. However, I do know if there's a RHP you expect to be a SP that's not 6 feet tall, you're very likely to be disappointed. It's just math. There have been exceptions, of course, but Spud Webb played several effective seasons in the NBA and was only 5-7.

Of course, I shouldn't tease the president and first lady about yet another weekend apart (that said, what I have said numerous times about the first lady needing a job to take time off remains true).

The Rambling wife and son will be at a waterpark with the Rambling in laws this weekend, while I opted out to spend a bachelor weekend with the Rambling geriatric pooch. I promised him many years ago we would not make him go to a kennel (though he had been there many times and always seemed to have been treated fine) anymore, and, well, who would have thought he'd still be alive. Christ, he's 18!

Of course, the irony is, I'm far more excited. My trip to the evil capitalist empire this afternoon assures me I have no reason to leave the house until Monday. That's what I call livin'.

--Rich people start sending their kid to preschool for daycare purposes.

--Liberals think this is unfair, and insist taxpayers fund daycare early education for all to "even things out."

--Study after study shows little/no advantage to 3 and 4 year olds learning their colors, alphabet, and how to have an extended nap time when the teacher babysitter has a "migraine." Any slight gain is lost by 3rd grade.

--Liberals continue to fund failed programs, end every sentence with "it's for the kids."

Funny, I've been DVRing The Waltons this week because I've never seen the last couple seasons, as I don't think they play them as often, since Richard Thomas was replaced by another actor. Neither of the parents were on much at all in the last years. Amazing how actors grow tired of drawing a check.

I enjoy Doug's denial of any Mara deal, because not only is it not allowed, but the Crew will probably have to trade for international money to spend in order to get up to the amount they have a "handshake" deal on.

This is far sooner
than I expected, and I wonder why they are starting with children...far
fewer folks would find it objectionable if a 88 year old decided to
call it quits.

As an amateur futurist, I have long said
in 500 years, there will be assisted suicide businesses...folks will go
there, be examined, be determined to be sane, and they will sign
numerous forms absolving the business from legal action (I like to think
punitive damages will be eliminated long before, but I'm not positive).

However, whether this will happen in 20, 50, or 400 years, I'm not sure. I would predict sooner rather than later, however. It would not surprise me at all if the Rambling son witnesses this.

Badgers favored by 8.5 tonight. Seems high to be honest. Huge game, if they win, they have a chance to finish as high as 3rd, if they lose, they are all but certain to lose again at Michigan Sunday, so they're just one of many teams in the hunt for 5th-9th.

I've never seen the Big Ten this strong...Penn State, Nebraska are very tough at home, and Illinois was ranked a couple months ago. They are the bottom three.

Let me see if I get this straight...Wendy Davis, who argued long and hard against a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, is now FOR such a ban...as long as there are exceptions made...for anyone who decides they want an abortion?

Added a sports package onto Charter the other day so I could enjoy a couple basketball games over the weekend, and forgot to call and cancel until today (that's how they get ya). Called today and, after looking for ten minutes on what number to call, the gal didn't prorate the monthly charge, but backdated my cancellation to the same day as I ordered it...no charge.

Lots of people complain about Charter, and we've had issues over the years, but they've always been a pleasure to deal with and knock far money off the bill than you'd expect.

I don't really get it, because they're just chicken nuggets. Of course, I'm not a raging idiot either.

The thing I've always wondered is, back when I ran a store, I went to Mickey D's once or twice a week. I'd get a Fish Filet meal, which was about $3.99 or so, and then add a McDouble or McChicken, which was $1...so, it was $4.99 plus tax, or thereabouts. However, if you would order a McDouble meal, it was $2.99, and a fish filet was about $2.49...so the exact same food was 50 cents more when ordered in another way. I always felt that was beyond strange.

Back in 2008, if you'll recall, Brantley was dealt to the Indians as a PTBNL in the Sabathia trade. The way that trade was structured, if MIL made the playoffs, CLE would choose who MIL was to send CLE off a list, which was thought at the time to mean Mike Brantley would go. However, if MIL missed the playoffs, they would choose, and Taylor Green would go.

On many of the message boards, many hoped Brantley would go. I hoped against hope that somehow, MIL would make the playoffs and somehow, Mike would still stay. It was funny actually, because of all the silliness that was spoken...it was all that rumor and "inside information" that wanna be scouts always throw out there...the classic "Ryan Braun has a hitch in his swing" and "Corey Hart will never hit because his elbow is too high" nonsense. They insisted Brantley would never have any power (this is almost word for word what has been said about Scooter Gennett), and his arm was too weak to play anywhere but LF (his arm is likely better than Aoki's, and oodles better than Davis'). Mike had always been young for his level as well.

I, being a huge believer in OBP, felt Michael already had the most important skill (the ability not to get out), and the power and such would come later. Green, of course, was in the midst of a career campaign in A+ ball, but I saw him as a guy who projected as a utility player...he could not hit LHP, and was not a good defensive player. I thought Brantley would at least be an everyday player during his pre arby years. I did not know him at the time, but I saw Brantley as a Nyjer Morgan in 2011 type, an everyday guy with warts, but still, a guy who could make the minimum, and be a solid contributor.

To be honest, Green has suffered a couple tough injuries since then; he still looks to be a backup (though a valuable asset, a lefty who could play 1B/2B/3B/LF/RF). Needless to say, I hit this one correctly, but wish I had been way off.

Larry Sanders is out indefinitely with a fractured right orbital bone.--Fox Sports WI

No foul was called, despite Sanders taking such hard impact that a bone was broken. That's what's so frightening about basketball, they call stuff all the time that comes under "assumed contact," but they miss actual contact a dozen times a game.

From what I can tell, the Bucks are dressing ten tonight, one more than they started with and two more than they ended with Saturday.

The irony is, the GOP suggested a delay a few months ago, and they were told that was the dumbest idea in history. A few days later the Dems decided to delay it; and proudly told everyone they had come with the idea all on their own, because the GOP has cooties.

Now, as if wanting to put off a dental appointment as long as possible, they slathered their sore tooth with Orajel, while still proudly proclaiming said sore tooth will change the world for the good.

Now, will the Dems want this hanging over their head as they try and hold onto the White House in 2016? Of course not. A delay until 2017 is now inevitable.

BREAKING: Michael Sam, Missouri DE SEC co-DPOY, says he is gay, according to ESPN. Sam could be the 1st openly gay NFL player.--Fox Sports

I predicted this would be met with a big yawn, as the old media has severely misjudged how little the public cares about this topic; proven by the fact Mike Hunt was wondering if the Badgers' fans would be able to handle a black QB when Russell Wilson was there, a good 20 years after Otis Flowers and Tony Lowery were black QB's and no one cared.

The old media desperately wants to think the public is terrified of blacks, gays, and others. They want to think they themselves are above that, while in reality, they are the only ones still using color and sexual preference to describe people.

Several of the top recruits for 2015 were at the Kohl Center today; Stone, Ellenson, and Johnson for sure.

Not sure what the situation is as far as if the other big men are waiting for Stone. While many feel they could be a PF to Stone's C (Stone is unlikely to be around more than a year or two), 16 year olds want to be "the man."

Just because they lost a couple home games, and that's un-American in the Cheesehead State.--Tom Izzo

It is a testament of the success they have had in the past decade plus that the casuals have determined this season a colossal failure...and they are sitting at 19-5. Heck, I've looked at the roster the past five seasons and wondered if this was the year their tournament streak ended.

Hard not to see a repeat of Ben Brust's halfcourt shot last year when Michigan State let that ball go.

I have to quote the normally hard to take Dan Dakitch...if you're not watching college basketball all season, I don't know what you're thinking. The Badgers were better lucky than good today, State missed a dozen wide open shots, Brust shot like the Rambling son, a ton of turnovers, toe on the line late kept it a three point game, missed FT's all day, including with 14 seconds left.

This is exactly where WI was a few years ago, because strong leadership and fiscal responsibility has, wait for it, led to a far stronger economy and rid the state of the deficit Doyle and the Dems left behind for the next guy to take care of.

And, despite dire predictions of terrible consequences like...a balanced budget and teachers leaving en mass to the greener pastures of platinum benefits in IL...it has turned out exactly like Governor Walker said it would.

Watching a show on Netflix called Russia's Toughest Prisons. They mention it is 50 below zero in Siberia, as if that is common. I checked, right now, it's 42 below...not supposed to get above 36 below for a week. That's not windchill, that's the temp.

Surprised to see the Badgers are favored by 3 over Michigan State tomorrow. 76% of the money bet so far at the online book I check out has been bet on the Spartans. I know Bo has won 90%+ at home over the years, but losing the last three makes that look unimportant.

Not to mention, Michigan State is just a better overall team right now.

Gilbert Lara
has the loose, handsy, fluid swing that scouts are looking for with the
plus bat speed and raw power to project as a future All-Star. He hit a
number of balls out to left field at the heavily scouted MLB showcase
and hit a triple and homerun in the game portion of the event. The
chatter among scouts is the Dominican third baseman has an agreement
with the Milwaukee Brewers for a $3.2 million bonus.--Scout.com

The Crew is not known for spending this kind of cash in Latin America, but the 3B cupboard is bare in the entire system other than Ramirez in the bigs.

Found this while looking for something else...IL church allowed to name itself Lakewood, simulcast Joel Osteen's (and others' ) services three times a week.

Given the success Osteen has had putting butts in the seats, both at home and on the road, I'm surprised there isn't one of these in every city. I DVR Osteen every week, and not only find his talks refreshing and enjoyable, but now find church services I attend live to be interminably long, negative and painfully "preachy."

In one of his recent talks, Osteen said someone asked him, "Are you one of those prosperity ministers?" He said he really didn't think of himself that way, though he knows some refer to him in that manner. But, he admitted, "I'll never be called a poverty minister either," which pretty much brought the house down.

The Cubs and Brewers meet for
the first time in 2014 on April 25-27 at Miller Park. The final game of
that series will be the Cubs' 24th of the season. If Chicago somehow
manages to open the campaign with 24 consecutive losses, the Sunday game
of that series would be loss #10000. This highlights my inability to
count in the mornings, because I screwed this uptwice on Twitter.

The two teams go their separate
ways for a few weeks after that before reconnecting at Wrigley Field on
May 16 for a series involving the Cubs' 42nd, 43rd and 44th games. If
the Cubs go 18-23. 19-22 or 20-21 in their first 41 games, then the
Brewers will get a shot at handing them their 10,000th loss in this
series.--BrewCrewBall

Please readers, if I ever post anything a fraction this ridiculous (and let's not forget, I post often about my dog), please let me know so I can either seek help or double my dosage.

Barring injury that would mean someone could go on the 60 day DL, the Crew will have to make room for at least Mark Reynolds, and maybe a couple other non roster invites (though most of the depth does seem to be on the 40 man). Unless he makes the 25 man over Bianchi, Elian Herrera, a INF/OF, is probably #40 at this second...and if he does, Bianchi could probably be removed.

As I often say, despite the Crew always supposedly having a weak system, they sure seem to lose a lot of solid role players on waivers. It is a credit to Doug that no stars have been lost.

Watching Patriot Games on Netflix, as despite having 150 channels, I can find nothing to watch. I clearly recall this as being the movie the Rambling wife and I had to leave about halfway through in the theater, because she was feeling ill.

Funny, did not recognize it at all, and I now see the film I was thinking of was Clear and Present Danger, which came out two years later, in '94.

Every once in a while, I get one right. It just made sense, and still does.

I think Doug is probably done, though only with major league contracts. They probably have several minor league offers out right now, especially to pitchers, and especially to pitchers returning some sort of injury.

EDIT: Adam reports it's for $3.25M, plus about $500K in incentives. More than I would have guessed, but not much...I would have predicted $2.5M.

I'd say five spots in the bullpen are now secure; Henderson, Kintzler, KRod, Gorzelanny, and Smith... though West does have options remaining, and he (and Thornburg, for that matter), is going to prepare as a SP, because injuries do happen.

EDIT: Sorry, I had Will Smith listed as Will West earlier...paying tribute to Wild, Wild, West by the other Wil Smith, subconsciously, perhaps.

Also, it should be noted Tom G may well not be ready to begin the 2014 campaign until a few weeks in.

EDIT2: Hand DFA'd to make room on the 40...Doug obviously hoping he'll slip through waivers and be able to stay in the organization. Hand is a nice guy to have stashed in AAA, but does not have much ceiling. He's more likely to get through than one of the younger guys who throw 94 but do not know where it is going.

This fool doesn't pretend for a second it's about the kids, or about improving schools.

I'll give him points for honesty. That said, the idea that this person has been overseeing public education is why charter schools have so much success, and why regular schools...led by this idiot and his selfish, greedy partners in crime.

CBO statesObamacare will cost over 2 million jobs. White House responds, "This is good because you'll work less." You can't make this up.--Dan Bongino

They simply have no understanding of economics or what the electorate wants. They keep using terms like full time equivalents, and try to make it sound like having two people work 20 hours a week is twice as good as one person working 40. They don't understand benefits, because they only believe in having quality benefits if you launder money back to the left.

Much of this is just because people don't prioritize well. I still recall one of my bosses staying until 8:30 one evening working on something minor...we were 70 layouts behind. She didn't want to look at the big picture, so she convinced herself she was part of the solution by staying 3.5 hours late. If she had conceived a plan to get caught up, THAT would have been a productive use of her time.

page 127 of CBO report...ACA means reduction in full-time-equivalent employment of 2M in 2017 rising to 2.5M 2024--Jake Tapper
The old media has been mighty silent about this little nugget...that's 2.5M jobs that Obamacare will destroy, and charge most higher premiums for worse coverage.

What Native Americans were honored for, the American capitalist is disgraced for.

Look, I don't know anything about pink slime or even if there's any danger in the ammonia they use. That said, I assume not, since this product has been used for decades, with nary a reported issue or connection.

So, we're getting ready to do the scene where Martin Mull comes over in
the morning to pick up Teri Garr, who's gone back to work, to take her
on a business trip. My guy's been fired, he's staying at home, he's
really emasculated. I mean, I'm worried about how to make money for my
family. We're doing the scene and it was okay. And I remember saying to
the prop guy, 'Go find me a chain saw.' When he comes back with it, he
says, 'You wanna wear these?' And he holds up some goggles. I go,
'Yeah.' You know, they make me look crazy. And when Martin shows up, I
know I should look under control, I'm not sweating it. I'm a dude. So
we're standing there, Martin pulls me aside and says, 'You know what you
ought to say? When I ask about the wiring, you oughta just deadpan:
'220, 221.' I died. It was perfect. I may have added 'whatever it
takes.' But it was his.--Esquire interview with Michael Keaton, on one of the greatest lines of all time.

Martin Mull was the author, though Keaton is not sure of the "whatever it takes" part.

Hello Al,Big Ten wrestling this year is so tough. I was a UW wrestler, and I am still involved with the UW wrestling club. Been to many matches in and out of town, and have caught many on TV, unbelievable tough all over the country. Very tough.

But so fun to watch. Big Ten Tournament is at the Kohl Center this year.

Keep up the good work, so so so looking forward to Brew Crew.

Go Brewers!

Eric

I know often at tournaments, they allow more than one entrant from each team, but only one gets to be used for team points. Often, if you look at the results, several of the "unattached" wrestlers will end up in the top eight.

With the downfall of the Soviet Union, I remember them saying then the second best team in the world was easily the "alternates" that came in 2nd at the US trials.

Since 1990, the amount of people living in poverty in China has fallen from 85% to 15%.--Google Facts

So, expansion of the private sector and growth in GDP helps lead people
out of poverty. Redistribution of wealth leads to the opposite.

What's that they say about history,"Those who fail to learn are doomed to repeat."--Brandon

The irony? China's health care has improved greatly...since the industry was mostly privatized. By giving people the incentive to work, they have vastly reduced poverty. By doing the exact opposite, Obama has...accomplished the exact opposite.

And he will continue to do so, because he simply has no understanding of how economics work. He truly thinks he can Robin Hood his way into a prosperity..."spread the wealth." This, despite the fact, it has never worked.

If you have Netflix, a plethora of movies and shows debuted (or returned) today, Airplane, Airplane II, MASH, Patriot Games, and oodles more.

And if you don't have Netflix, Christ, it's $8 a month. Live a little.

2/01/2014 02:27:00 PM

These are the good old days. Some folks are just too busy wishing the streets were paved with gold to enjoy the good times.

Whatever strikes me as
interesting, and serious Milwaukee Brewers thoughts. If you are a believer
in respecting OBP, throwing strikes, and keeping the ball in the park,
you may have found the place you've been searching for. I believe in low taxes, small government, and am not afraid to be labeled patriotic. If you are interested in sausage race results, walk up music, or professional wrestling, you may wish to click elsewhere.

I'm happy to pay taxes to help the helpless. I don't like paying taxes to help the clueless. Look at the Occupy movement...I'm forced to pay taxes to help those whose plight I delight in.--Dennis Miller

If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, and your life will be brief.--President Trump

Never have lives less lived been more chronicled.--Dennis Miller

I’m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.--Mad Dog Mattis

I have never understood why it is "greed" to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else's money.--Thomas Sowell